A walk through the Mahakan Fort Community

The area behind the city wall by Mahakan Fort is slated to be turned
into a 'tourist park' (like Santichaiprakarn
Park) which would require the relocation of a community of people
living in old wooden houses and shanties on the site. Activists have
countered with proposals to use part of the land which is already
unoccupied for a park and allow the residents to stay, but the city
is still pushing for removal. (Photos taken on July 19 and August
31, 2003)

From the Bangkok Post: The design of the yellow building,
just a few metres from Pan Fa bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, resembles
structures built during the reign of King Rama VI (King Mongkut).
An inscription on the gable reads "2459", which marks the
Buddhist year in which it was built or the year it was renovated,
which would correspond with 1916 in the Christian Era. Chalermsak
Ramkomut, a senior resident of Mahakan Fort community, says the building
was once a pier for court officials wanting to take a boat trip to
Sra Pathum Palace,
residence of Her Majesty Somdej Phra Phanwassa (Queen Sawang Vadhana).
The story goes on say the pier might have been called "Changwang
Aim Pier." (Bangkok
Post, July 21, 2003)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

2459 (or 1916), the
date on the "Changwang Aim Pier" building.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

A bridge on Boriphat Road over Klong Mahanak.
The date on the bridge is 2457 or 1914 making it contemporary with
the "Changwang Aim Pier" building opposite it.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Wooden houses as seen from the parking lot.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Entering the community. The city wall
is on the right.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

The entrances that open onto Mahachai
Road used to be home to fireworks shops, but these were closed when
police cracked down on fireworks vendors before Loy Kratong in 2002.
Then the entrances themselves were blocked. UPDATE: As of August
31, 2003, the wall entrances have been opened again in line with a
community effort to spruce up the area to forestall eviction. There
are even some fireworks shops open again.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

City wall on the left.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

The Golden Mount looms over the community.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Two details of this house are below.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Mahakan Fort as seen from the parking
lot.
Busy Ratchadamnoen Road is on the other side. Note the motorcycle
taxi driver resting in the foreground.